JR Simmons lives in Northern Utah with his wife and 4 boys. He loves spending time with his family and coaching his kids in all of their different sports. He is an avid gamer and is very excited that his boys are picking up on his hobby. JR was recently introduced to triathlons and has since found that he loves the sport. Most nights he can be found either sitting down with a good game or hunched over his iPad writing.

Juli Caldwell

Juli Caldwell has a degree in English from Weber State University. She is the author of Psyched, a YA paranormal novel; a funny little novella called Arms Wide Open; and Beyond Perfection, a latter-day romance. She also freelances as an editor for kicks. She lives near the shores of the Great Salt Lake with her husband, two bookworm daughters, and a dog who sheds too much.

Shantal Sessions

Shantal is married to the love of her life and is the mother of two smart, fun, and talented teen boys, and she spends much of her time trying to help them become wonderful men. She loves outdoor activities, including skiing (snow and water), hiking, camping, boating, exercising, and gardening. She loves to cook from her garden, and to bake cookies, mostly chocolate. Having spent a dozen years as a professional model, the idea for Agency developed in the dressing rooms and on the catwalks in the strange, alternate world of the modeling universe.

Wendy

Knight

Wendy Knight was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful family who spoiled her rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five, terror when faced with a live phone call, etcetera, etcetera). She also enjoys chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading, and hiking. Camping is also big: her family is slowly working toward a goal of seeing all the National Parks in the U.S.

You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby, wearing ridiculously high heels for whatever the occasion. And if everything works out just right, she will also be writing.

I started painting in childhood, first in watercolor and then in oils. I put my paints away while I was busy with completing my college education, marriage, a daughter and a career in dental hygiene. Twenty-five years ago I started drawing and watercolor classes at the American River College in Sacramento, California, and I have been painting ever since.

My husband’s job brought us to Utah in 1995. We chose to make our home in Ogden because of its rich history (my husband is a railroad buff), and supportive arts community.

I retired from dental hygiene in 2002, and with nine other brave local artists opened Gallery 25 artist cooperative. It is still thriving on Historic 25th Street. I left Gallery 25 in 2006 to work at Ogden Blue teaching watercolor painting and managing the art supplies.

In 2008, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and in 2009 I had to leave my job and studio at Ogden Blue. I now paint at my home at a slower pace, but I find it gives me a reason to get up in the morning. I also teach a weekly watercolor class at my home. Mu students have become treasured friends who inspire me enormously and make me thankful that I still have a gift to share.

Besides watercolor, I work in acrylic, gouache, mixed media and printmaking. I no longer work in oils for health reasons. My style is contemporary, and I enjoy a variety of subject matter as well as abstraction. I am especially drawn to the energy of cities and the spirituality of nature.

I have been a great fan of the Imagine Ballet Theatre since I saw their production of “The Secret Garden,” and I am honored to be invited to be their featured artist for November!

Join Monica Campbell and Dancers at Ogden’s historic Egyptain theater for an evening of innovative and thought provoking dance. The program will include the premier of a new work in addition to some older audience favorites. Highlights include Breathing Room (2009), an upbeat, lighthearted duet that explores the age old question of proximity in relationships. Also on the program is the award-winning excerpt from the Final Hours (2010), which was most recently presented in the Gala performance of the American College Dance Festival Northwest Region. Watch for some special guest performances by Repertory Dance Theater priniple alumna Angie Banchero-Kelleher in Campbell’s The Visitor (2007), and Ririe-Woodbury veteran Jill Vorhees Edwards and Monica Campbell in Chai Chi Chiang’s So…What’s Next?

The evening will culminate with the premier of The Spring, a highly physical thirty-minute piece inspired by the events of the Arab Spring. An amazing cast of twelve dancers charge through the space as they explore ideads of revolution, community and the individual intensity and commitment necessary to forge cultural change.

This evening of dance will highlight the latest works of choreographer Monica Campbell, whose work often strives to provide commentary on the role of the individuals in shaping their societiesand forging their identities. Don’t miss it.

The School of Imagine Ballet Theatre will hold an Open House August 4th, 2012, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, to register New and Returning Students. Please come and check out our studios in Downtown Ogden. Classes will begin August 20th.

The Company will resume rehearsals August 24, 2012, and we will be performing at the Ogden City Farmers Market on Saturday 25, 2012. We will be starting with new choreography for The Fairy Doll, Peter and The Wolfand rehearsing to dance with Laurie Sefton’s Clairobscur Dance Company from Los Angeles as part of The Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival. Nutcracker Auditions will be September 8, 2012, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, at the IBT Studios. The location is 2432 Washington Blvd. Ogden, Utah 84401.